Cartridge with separate bottom for a mixing valve

ABSTRACT

A cartridge is receivable in a mixing valve body for regulating the flow rate and the mixing proportions of the liquid from two supply inlets. The cartridge includes a shell housing, an operating mechanism, and a movable valve element of hard material. The cartridge can be standardized to fit different kinds of mixing valve bodies. A separate bottom, built separately from the shell, mounts a fixed valve plate of hard material and includes at least the main parts distinguishing the cartridges assigned to different kinds of mixing valve bodies. A joint mechanism allows the mounting of the bottom onto the shell in selected positions so that the shell and bottom are resistant against separation from a pulling force. Preferably the joint, foreseen between the shell and the bottom of the cartridge, is a bayonet-type joint that fixes the shell and bottom against rotation but allows limited axial movement between the shell and the bottom.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present invention deals with a cartridge to be introduced into thebody of a mixing valve faucet so as to regulate the water flow rate andthe mixing proportions of the liquid from two supply inlets in thefaucet. The cartridge has a shell, a bottom, a fixed valve seat of hardmaterial mounted in the bottom, an operating mechanism within the shell,and at least a movable valve plate connected to the operating mechanismto cooperate with the fixed valve seat.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Many kinds of mixing valves are distinguishable because of their waterflow rate, the kind of valve plates used for the regulation of liquidflow, the arrangement of the supply lines and spout outlet, the optionalplacement of divertors, or the presence of other particularcharacteristics as required by the laws or regulations of someparticular countries. Furthermore, the same mixing valve can behavedifferently depending on how it is connected to the supply lines if thecartridge is not correspondingly modified.

Up to now there has been the necessity to produce many differentcartridges, each one particularly suited to different kinds of mixingvalves or to particular installation conditions although the shell,operating mechanism, and other components are not substantiallydifferent in different models and are theoretically susceptible tostandard construction. The production of many kinds of cartridges, whichare different only because of some minor details, causes a cost increasein production, inventory and distribution and causes the plumbers to besupplied with different kinds of cartridges and the risk in choosingfrom the various cartridges.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

It is desirable to find a remedy to the aforesaid problem bystandardizing a cartridge for different kinds of mixing valves or fordifferent installation conditions. Consequently, reductions of theproduction and storage costs and better industrial organization of theproduction, storage and distribution of the cartridge are possible.

It is also desirable to make a standard cartridge available forinstallation in different kinds of mixing valves or in differentinstallation conditions.

Standardization can be achieved, according to this invention, through acartridge characterized by a shell that is built in a substantiallystandard form that is adequate for different kinds of mixing valves andfor different installation conditions. The operating mechanism is housedin the shell. The bottom is built separately from the shell and bears atleast the main parts intended to distinguish the cartridges assigned todifferent kinds of mixing valve bodies or to different installationconditions. A joint between the shell and the bottom allows thecartridge shell to be joined to different bottoms or the bottom to bemounted in different positions and the joint is constructed to resistpulling without disconnection of the bottom from the shell. The jointcan be formed to allow mounting of the bottom to the shell in more thanone position.

Due to these characteristics, the main and most expensive bulky part ofthe cartridge can easily be of only one standard model to form thecartridges assigned to many kinds of mixing valves and to differentinstallation conditions. The distinguishing elements, diversifying thecartridges assigned to different kinds of mixing valves or to differentinstallation conditions, are in the separate bottom member.

The separate bottom does not cause any trouble as its own joiningdevices are not releasable through a simple pull. This way, the wholecartridge along with the bottom can always be removed from the mixingvalve body, where it was seated without the bottom being accidentallyretained in the body because of the holding seals, incidental adhesionsor the like.

The cartridge can have a joint arranged between the shell and thecartridge bottom so that the bottom can be mounted to the shell withoutseparate tools. Due to this characteristic, the standardized part of thecartridge and the distinguishing bottom can be separately supplied tothe plumber and can be easily joined when it is necessary by connectinga standard shell containing the operating mechanism with the bottomrequired by the particular installation or with the same bottom in aparticular position required by the installation. Preferably the jointis a bayonet-type to fix the bottom of the cartridge to the shell in oneor more specific angular positions. Due to this characteristic, thecartridge can also be premounted with its own standard bottom that ismost frequently used or placed in the generally used position and, whenit is necessary, the bottom can be easily removed by a plumber andremounted into a different position or replaced by a different bottom.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Reference is now made to the accompanying drawings in which:

FIG. 1 shows a segmented side elevational view of a cartridge for amixing valve having a separately constructed bottom which can be snapfitted in place without using any tools;

FIG. 2 shows a view similar to FIG. 1 of a second embodiment of acartridge where the bottom is constructed to be easily released andremounted;

FIG. 3 shows a part of the cartridge shell according to FIG. 2 with partof the joint clearly shown as an integral part of the shell; and

FIG. 4 shows the side elevational view of the cartridge bottom accordingto FIG. 2.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

The cartridge, according to FIG. 1, consists of a shell formed by asubstantially cylindrical part 1 which is connected through releaseteeth 2 to an upper cap 3. The cap forms the upper half bearing for anarticulation ball 5 which is provided on the external side with an arm 4appointed to be connected with an operating lever (not shown) of themixing valve and on the inner side with a flat key 6, appointed totransmit to the inner components of the cartridge some controlledtranslational and rotational movement through the arm 4 by the operatinglever. The ball 5 sits on a lower half bearing 8 received into thecylindrical part 1 of the cartridge shell. A seal 7 is introduced aroundthe ball 5 between the half bearings 3 and 8. Under the half bearing 8in the cylindrical part 1 of the cartridge shell a control ring 9 isswivel mounted for a limited angle. The control ring 9 has a diametralslot 10. A head 11 of a slide member 12 is positioned in the slot 10 toslide therein. The head 11 has a rectangular cavity that receives theflat key 6 connected to the ball 5. The slide member 12 has a downwardlydepending relief 13 to be connected to a movable valve plate 14 of hardmaterial. The valve plate 14 can therefore be rotated andtranslationally moved by operation of ball 5 in the operating lever.

A separate bottom member 19 of the cartridge mounts a fixed valve plate15 of hard material that cooperates with the movable valve plate 14 toregulate the water flow rate and the mixing ratio of the liquidssupplied to the mixing valve. The bottom member 19 is built as aseparate member and is mounted to the cover by a joining mechanism 16,18 which, in this case, consists of windows 16 presented by the shell 1and teeth 18 presented by the bottom 19.

The parts of the shell 1 having the windows or the parts of the bottom19 having the extending teeth, have a resiliency to be snap fittedtogether. The bottom 19 can be fixed to the cartridge shell 1 by simplyintroducing it and pressing it against its lower extremity so that theteeth 18 are released into the windows 16 of the shell 1. To make thisoperation easier, the lower extremity of the shell can have a chamferedsurface 17.

Although the mounting operation of the bottom 19 is very easy, a pullingforce on the bottom cannot disconnect it from the cartridge. Thisguarantees that the cartridge can be taken out from the mixing valvebody carrying with it the bottom 19 even if the bottom 19 isfrictionally held in the body, for example, by the friction of thecircumferential seals 20 and 21 in corresponding borings A and B of thefaucet bottom. In this fashion, a bottom of any model suitable to everykind of mixing valve can be mounted to a standard shell 1-3 of thecartridge containing standard components 4-14.

When desired, the bottom can be mounted in different positions accordingto the necessities of the installation. The bottom 19 has two inlets 22and 23 corresponding to two passages through the fixed plate 15. Thefirst inlet 22 ends laterally between the two seals 20 and 21 and itreceives the water supplied to the boring A of the mixing valve bodywhile the second pipe 23 ends under the lower seal 21 and therefore itreceives the water supplied to the boring B of the mixing valve body. Ifthe bottom 19 is applied in the position shown in FIG. 1, the watersupplied at the boring A is directed to the left passage (according toFIG. 1) of the fixed valve plate 15, and therefore it can be deliveredby shifting the lever 4 to the left while the water supplied at theboring B is directed to the right passage (according to FIG. 1) of thefixed valve plate 15 and therefore it can be delivered by shifting thelever to the right. Water flows into the shell and through outlets 24.

If we mount the bottom 19 in a position with a 180° rotation incomparison to the one shown in FIG. 1 to a position as shown in FIG. 2,it turns out that the water supplied to the boring A is directed to theright passage of the fixed valve plate 15 and therefore it can bedelivered by shifting the lever 4 to the right, while the water suppliedto the boring B is directed to the left passage of the fixed valve plate15, and it can be therefore delivered by shifting the lever 4 to theleft.

The two different possible assembly positions of the bottom 19 provide asimilar operation of the valve relative to the operation carried out bythe consumer by two different mixing valve faucets having invertedconnections where water flows into the mixing body. Inversion oftenoccurs when some mixing valves are mounted on the opposite sides of acommon wall. The two vertical supply pipes of hot and cold water withinthe wall are in a position reciprocally inverted to the two mixing valvefaucets. The plumber is able to mount the bottom 19 into the shell 1during the installation by choosing its assembly position to achieve thecorrect behavior of the mixing valves placed on both sides of the commonwall.

On occasion, the two possible assembly positions of the bottom 19 can bemore than two and the angle of the shifts from one position to the nextone can be preselected at positions other than at 180° or at itssubmultiples.

In other cases, the plumber will instead select among the availabledifferent bottoms 19 for the particular necessities of the currentinstallation and will apply this particular bottom, in the opportuneposition, to the cartridge shell 1.

With the embodiment according to FIG. 1, disassembly of the bottom 19,after being applied to the cartridge shell 1, can be impossible or atleast uneasy due to the snap fitting feature of the joint 16-18.Therefore, the bottom 19 must be supplied separately from the remainderof the cartridge contained in the shell 1 to allow the plumber to choosethem or to easily position them. In certain cases, it may be moreadvantageous that the bottom, after being applied to the cartridge, canstill be easily released or disassembled from the rest of the cartridge.This provides for reassembly in a different position or replacement by adifferent bottom.

In the embodiment according to FIGS. 2-4, the joint mechanism providedat the lower extremity of the cartridge shell 1a, consists of clutchprongs 27 and recesses 26. Correspondingly, the bottom 19a has somebayonet slots 28 and clutch lugs 29. These parts are so placed that theprongs 27 of the shell 1a can be received into the bayonet slots 28 ofthe bottom 19a without the lugs 29 preventing the necessary rotation ofthe parts. Further axial movement of the bottom 19a has the lugs 29 ofthe bottom 19a being received in the recesses 26 of the shell 1a toprevent further rotation.

As described in the first case, the bottom 19a can be mounted bychoosing the position or an adequate bottom can be chosen amongavailable different bottoms. When a cartridge comprising the shell 1a,its internal components, and the bottom 19a is received into the mixingvalve body, the lugs 29 are necessarily engaged in the recesses 26 andguarantee that the bottom 19a and the fixed valve plate it seats cannotrotate with respect to the cartridge, therefore keeping the angularposition necessary for a correct working.

On the other hand, if the cartridge is extracted by the mixing valvebody, the lugs 29 are disconnected from the recesses 26 as a consequenceto the exerting pull, but the bayonet joint of prongs 27 and slots 28remain engaged and guarantee that the bottom 19a is extracted from themixing valve body together with the cartridge.

The bottom 19a is then ready to be, if necessary, shifted or replacedagainst disconnection of the bayonet joint 27 , 28 through rotation andthe separation of the components 1a and 19a.

As a variation to the joint mechanism shown in FIGS. 2-4, the shell 1acould have only some prongs 27 and the bayonet slots 28 of the bottom19a could have a zigzag course. In this case, the same prongs 27,engaging in the recesses of the bayonet slits could prevent furtherrotation of the member. The recesses 26 and the lugs 29 can therefore beeliminated.

In the embodiment according to FIG. 2, the possible assembly positionsof the bottom 19a in the shell can be shifted at any desired angle. Inthe case of either FIG. 1 or FIGS. 2-4, the bottom 19, 19a in the shell1, 1aan adequate axial mobility can be possible so as to transmit acompressive force to the inner parts of the cartridge when it isrequired. In the shown embodiments, the bottom transfers onto the platesof hard material a compressive force resulting from the pressure of thewater supplied at the mixing borings A and B. The invention can beapplied to mixing valves using any kinds of plates of hard materialwhich can be both (or only one) crossed by some passages. The plates mayinclude some return passages for mixed water. The present invention maybe also applied to mixing valves using more than two plates of hardmaterial.

Variations and modifications of the present invention are possiblewithout departing from the scope and spirit as defined in the appendedclaims.

I claim:
 1. A cartridge for a mixing valve faucet that regulates theflow rate and mixing proportions of liquid from two supply inlets tosaid faucet, said cartridge characterized by:a main shell; an operatingmechanism mounted to said shell; a movable valve element operablyconnected to said operating mechanism: a separate bottom member mountedto said shell; said bottom mounting a fixed valve seat to cooperate withsaid movable valve element; a joint means for mounting said bottom tosaid shell and being resistant against separation of the bottom andshell by pulling alone; said joint means positioned and cooperating withsaid shell and bottom to mount said bottom to said shell in at least tworotated positions; said joint means being constructed to mount saidbottom in two different rotated positions to cause the communication ofsaid supply inlets to be inverted with said fixed valve seat at saidrespective two positions.
 2. A cartridge as defined in claim 1 furthercharacterized by:said joint means being integrally incorporated in theshell and bottom and constructed to mount said bottom to said shell freefrom any separate tools.
 3. A cartridge as defined in claim 2 furthercharacterized by:said joint means including teeth extending from one ofsaid shell and bottom and engaging edges in the other of said shell andbottom; said teeth being resilient in nature to snap fit onto said edge.4. A cartridge as defined in claim 3 wherein said other of said shelland bottom has a surface leading up to said edge that is chamfered toprovide easy mounting by said joint means.
 5. A cartridge as defined inclaim 2 wherein said joint means includes a bayonet-type joint withcomplementary prongs on one of said shell and bottom and slots on saidother of said shell and bottom;means for fixing said shell and bottomfrom rotating relative to each other.
 6. A cartridge as defined in claim5 wherein said means for fixing includes complementary lug and slot onsaid shell and bottom that engage after said bayonet joint is engaged.7. A cartridge as defined in claim 5 wherein said means for fixingincludes said slots having axially extending recessed sections thataxially receive said prongs.
 8. A cartridge as defined in claim 1further characterized by:said joint means allowing limited axialmovement between said shell and bottom when said bottom is mounted tosaid shell.
 9. A cartridge as defined in claim 8 wherein said bottompositionable in said mixing valve faucet to be responsive to pressurefrom said supply inlets to provide a compressive force between saidfixed valve seat and movable valve element.
 10. A cartridge for a mixingvalve faucet that regulates the flow rate and mixing proportions ofliquid from two supply inlets to said faucet, said cartridgecharacterized by:an operating mechanism including an articulating ballmember having an operating arm and extending key element; a valve slidemember receiving said key element; a movable valve element connected tosaid valve slide member; a control ring having a window that receivessaid valve slide member; a lower half bearing for abutting saidarticulating ball member; a shell for housing said movable valveelement, valve slide member, control ring, lower half bearing andarticulating ball member; said shell includes an upper cap memberforming an upper half bearing for said articulating ball member and atubular member connected to said cap member; a separate bottom memberincluding a fixed valve seat for cooperating with said movable valveelement; and a joint means for mounting said separate bottom to saidtubular member and being resistant against pulling on said bottom orshell.